The Athens Marathon. The Authentic is run on the original course from Marathon to Athens, the route the messenger is said to have run in 490 BC to bring news of the Greek victory over the Persians. The same course was used for the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896 and for the 2004 Olympic marathon. It starts at the Historic Marathon Start in Marathon and finishes inside the marble Panathenaic Stadium. KEY INFO Start: Sunday 8 November 2026 at 08:30 in Marathon, with a wave start (15 blocks plus a separate start for athletes with disabilities). The last block starts at 10:09. Time limit: 8 hours. All finishes close at 18:15. Minimum age: 20 (born 2006 or earlier). Entry fee: €75 (Enhanced tier) or €165 (Full tier), both sold out. Runners who are not EU citizens or residents can only register in the Full tier. Registration closed on 25 September 2026. The race also hosts the SEGAS Greek Marathon Championship, the Military Marathon Games and the Greek Deaf Marathon Championship. COURSE The first 4 km are slightly downhill along Marathonos Avenue, then the course loops around the Tomb of the Marathon Warriors (Tymvos) for 2.2 km. It is flat from km 6 to km 10 (Nea Makri). From km 11 to km 17 there are uphill sections, followed by a steep descent before the Rafina junction. From there the road climbs, hardest up to km 20. Through Pikermi climbs and easier stretches alternate up to km 25, where a long climb begins. Pallini (km 27-28) is also uphill. The toughest point is the Stavros interchange at km 30-31 in Gerakas. After that comes a steep downhill to Agia Paraskevi square, then flat and downhill running along Mesogeion Avenue through Chalandri and Cholargos. The biggest descent runs from the Ministry of Defence to the Katehaki junction (km 37.5). After Erikos Dynan hospital the course turns onto Michalakopoulou and Feidippidou, reaches km 39 at the Kifisias and Alexandras junction and descends Vasilissis Sofias Avenue past the US Embassy, the Athens Concert Hall and Eleftherias Park (km 40, last aid station). At THE ILISIAN hotel it continues towards Syntagma, past Evangelismos hospital and the War Museum, then turns left onto Irodou Attikou (km 41.2) past the Maximos Mansion, the Presidential Mansion and the National Garden. The last 170 m are on the tartan track inside the Panathenaic Stadium, finishing on the left side. GETTING TO THE START Free buses run straight to the start, with no stops. Wave 1 (blocks 1-10), 05:00-06:45: Syngrou-Fix metro (last bus 06:15), Syntagma (Vasilissis Amalias Avenue by Parliament, and Vasileos Georgiou outside Hotel Grande Bretagne), Panepistimio, Evangelismos, Katehaki and Omonia. Wave 2 (blocks 11-15), 06:30-07:45: Ethniki Amyna, Cholargos, Katehaki and Nomismatokopio metro stations, all on Mesogeion Avenue. If you drive, be at the start area by 07:30. Parking is about 800 m away and Marathonos Avenue closes to traffic in both directions from 08:00. CLOTHING BAGS There is no bag drop at the start. Hand in the official bag at the allwyn Marathon EXPO (Faliro Indoor Hall): Wed 4 Nov 12:00-22:00, Thu 5 and Fri 6 Nov 10:00-22:00, Sat 7 Nov 10:00-21:00. Collect it after the finish at Zappeion, from the same truck, by showing your bib. Uncollected bags are kept for 15 days. Spare clothes left in the bins at blocks 2-5 are donated. AID STATIONS AND SERVICES 15 aid stations, one every 2.5 km, each with medical support and 6 toilets (plus an accessible toilet at 10, 20, 30 and 40 km). Water at every station. Isotonic drinks at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 km. Energy gels at 10 and 20 km. Bananas at 20, 25, 30 and 35 km. Coca-Cola at 30, 35 and 40 km and salty snacks at 30 and 35 km. Sponges at 7.5, 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5 km. Physiotherapists at 25 and 30 km. Timing mats every 5 km and at halfway (21.1 km). A bus follows the last runners and picks up anyone who drops out. CUT-OFF TIMES (clock time) 5 km 10:39, 10 km 11:41, 15 km 12:34, 20 km 13:33, 21.1 km 13:45, 25 km 14:29, 30 km 15:25, 35 km 16:23, 40 km 17:25. After these times the road reopens to traffic, and anyone who continues must move to the pavement. RULES World Athletics, AIMS and SEGAS rules apply. Racing and hand-cycle wheelchairs are not allowed in the marathon. Headphones are allowed at low volume. No pets, bikes, scooters or pacers on wheels. Starting from the wrong block means disqualification. RACE WEEKEND Wed 4 to Sat 7 November: allwyn Marathon EXPO and bib collection at Faliro Taekwondo Hall. Sat 7 November: opening ceremony at the Tomb of Marathon (12:30) and lighting of the Marathon Flame (13:50). Kids Race 1.2K at 16:00, 5K at 17:00 and 5K Universities Night Run at 20:00 in central Athens. Sun 8 November: 10K at 08:00 and Marathon at 08:30. The first man is expected at the stadium around 10:39 and the first woman around 11:03. Awards at 11:35. FOR SPECTATORS Entry to the Panathenaic Stadium and to the opening ceremony at the Tomb of Marathon is free. Central Athens is closed to traffic on Sat 7 Nov 15:00-21:00 and Sun 8 Nov 05:00-18:20, so take the metro: Syntagma, Akropoli and Evangelismos are about 1 km from the stadium. The race is broadcast live on ERT. Live results are on the official website, and race photos are on photos.athensauthenticmarathon.gr within 48 hours. HEALTH No medical certificate is required, but a recent cardiology check is strongly advised. The organisers say that if you can't comfortably run 21.1 km a month before the race, you should run the 5K or 10K instead. Don't start with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or chest pain. Drink regularly but don't overdrink, because too much water can cause hyponatraemia.